Comic-Con 2014: ‘Constantine’ will explore the ‘occult corner of the DC Universe’

July 26, 2014 | 9:49 p.m.

A worker helps assemble a giant billboard for the new NBC show “Constantine” near Petco Park as part of Comic-Con preparations. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

While “Arrow” and “The Flash” are busy expanding the depiction of the DC Universe over on the CW, “Constantine” is coming to NBC. And according to executive producer David S. Goyer, they “have access to the occult corner of the DC universe.”

The series stars Matt Ryan as John Constantine, an exorcist who carries the guilt of what happened to a friend’s daughter when her exorcism went horribly wrong.

While a very familiar DC hero mask makes a cameo appearance in the pilot episode, which screened during the show’s panel on Saturday afternoon, Goyer cautioned that the series wouldn’t become a “guest star of the week” type of series.

That said, Goyer said that the series wouldn’t shy away from its comic book roots.

“There are over 300 issues of ‘Hellblazer,'” Goyer said. “Some of the best writers in the business have been writing Constantine, and we’re going to use that as our source material.”

Goyer was joined on the panel by writer and executive producer Daniel Cerone, Ryan, who plays Constantine, cast members Harold Perrineau, Angelica Celaya and Charles Halford. Missing was actress Lucy Griffiths, the female lead from the pilot, who will be replaced by Celaya in the second episode.

While Griffiths played a character invented for the series, Celaya will be playing Zed, a magic-using character well known to fans of the comic book series.

“We felt like [Griffith’s character] couldn’t go toe-to-toe with Constantine,” Goyer said of the change.

Goyer also announced that the music for the series would be composed by Emmy-winner Bear McCreary, who bounded on stage long enough to wave to the audience.

Cerone did say that by the end of the first season, all of Constantine’s “Newcastle Crew,” a group of occult experts, would be introduced.